Bring on the Love

So my friend smartmama issued a 14 Days of Love challenge on her blog last week.  Unfortunately, I cannot manage 14 days of love in my present state. I'm doing well if I can manage one day, to be honest. So far, it has proven almost beyond my love capacities to gestate a human being, to gestate a dissertation, and to lovingly correct the two children I already I have when they are at each others' throats rather than snapping, sending them to their rooms indefinitely, or turning on Madagascar for them to memorize. So, no 14 days here. 

However, I think I might be able to manage 5 days. Because it's all about baby steps, knowing your limits, or not biting off more Days of Love than you can chew. So 5 days it is. Yesterday, I pulled out the old Easter egg tree from last April, which is now missing more than half of its appendages, and Voila! transformed into "The Tree of Love."  Mister and Sweetie get to choose one little goodie off the tree every day. Attached to the goodies are notes that tell them something that I love about them. 

And so far, so good on the kids' end. In fact, a little too good. They can't keep away from the darn tree and have been known to sneak peeks or tear little slits into unopened little goodies. Today the Tree of Love had to take a time out on top of the refridgerator until two children could remember that one way to show love to Mom is to obey the Rules of the Tree of Love. 

But so far, so good on my end too. Tonight when I tucked Mister into bed, he said, "Mom, you only had to ask me once to brush my teeth.  Is that something you love about me, that I'm a fast listener tonight?" 

"Yes," I said. "That is one of the many things I love about you." 

It's good for me to remember all of those many, many things I love about my kids. And it's good for Mister too. Who doesn't need a little daily validation?  

Now wish me luck on the remaining 4 Days . . .